MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner - (Sexual Health) - Degree Apprenticeship

The practice focused, clinical nature of this programme enables contextualisation of theoretical underpinnings of the 4 pillars of advanced practice; Clinical Practice, Leadership and Management, Education, and Research, thus developing capability in an advanced role whilst also preparing apprentices to contribute to the future healthcare agenda.

The programme comprises core study modules and option modules, ensuring that studies are tailored to the needs of the apprentice and employer. All modules are designed to develop you across all 4 pillars of advanced practice within your specialist area of practice. A summary of each module is below. Full details of each module can be found via the Modules Overview box at the bottom of the page.  

Year one of the programme comprises two compulsory modules and one core module. The compulsory modules are designed to develop your knowledge and skills for your clinical practice role. The Health History and Examination module uses a body systems approach to developing the essential fundamental skills for patient assessment, whilst introducing the notion of clinical decision making in the context of evidence for practice. The Life Science for Advanced Clinical Practitioners module will deepen your knowledge of normal and disease altered physiological processes. It will enable you to appraise the means and methods of measuring the parameters of normal and altered physiology exploring metabolic and homeostatic mechanisms at a cellular level. You will apply this to your specialist field. The core Service Improvement and Research Methods for Advanced Practice module will equip you with the knowledge required to transform service delivery and secure continuous quality improvement. You will explore evidence-based practice, research and service improvement case studies relating the findings to your sector to consider how your practice can be transformed to meet personal, organisational and national drivers.

Year two includes one compulsory module and two optional routes. All apprentices will undertake the compulsory Managing Clinical Complexity in Advanced Clinical Practice module. In this module you will develop mastery in the complex knowledge and technical ability needed to assess, monitor and develop collaborative management plans across complex disease continuums.

Non-medical prescribing will be studied by those undertaking Option route 1. The prescribing qualification / authority of independent and supplementary prescribing relates to regulatory and legal permissions therefore to be eligible to study non-medical prescribing you must hold a professional registration that supports the prescribing role. There are support and supervision requirements additional to those required within the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme when undertaking the non-medical prescribing route. Further information can be found here.

Option route 2 is designed to further your development with specific reference to the Leadership and Management pillar and the Education pillar. Contemporary Advanced Clinical Practice explores the global, political and social context of advanced practice and the expectations of the advanced practitioner as clinician, educator, leader and researcher. Contemporary theories of leadership, management and change management will support your development as a leader of service innovation and enhanced patient care whilst development of knowledge and application of learning, teaching and assessment theories will develop you as an educator.

Professional and Practice Development for Advanced Clinical Practice evaluates your knowledge, capability and confidence in leading and enhancing patient care and service delivery. Focused on an area of interest, you will be introduced to the role of service user/public partnership engagement strategies, quality assurance and service enhancement approaches in clinical practice including use of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) and Patient Recorded Experience Measures (PREMS) to promote multiprofessional and multi-agency teamworking to enhance person-centered care.

Year three includes a dissertation portfolio module and an apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA). The Apprenticeship Dissertation Portfolio for Advanced Clinical Practitioners is the culmination of your practice portfolio alongside the development of a Practice Project, Empirical Project, or Systematic Appraisal. The Knowledge for Advanced Clinical Practice (Apprenticeship End Point Assessment) is your final module of study and provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have achieved the knowledge, skills and behaviours identified in the Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Integrated degree) standard.

Recognition of Prior Learning

During the admissions process you can apply to have previously accredited academic study recognised against full modules of study within this programme. Any claims for recognition of prior (RPL) should evidence how your previous study fully meets the learning outcomes for the module claimed against and the corresponding programme learning outcomes. Applications for RPL should be discussed with and supported by your employer, and the programme team will make the final decision.

Government guidance on apprenticeship specific recognition of prior learning can be found here.

End Point Assessment

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (2020) state that - Rigorous, robust and independent End Point Assessment (EPA) gives employers confidence that apprentices can actually perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the occupational standard. For details of the current EPA for your standard please consult the IFATE Apprenticeship standards / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education webpage here.

This apprenticeship normally takes 3 years (part-time) to complete. The EPA for this apprenticeship is integrated and is the final 20 credits of the MSc programme. The EPA period lasts 12 weeks and starts once the apprentice has met the gateway requirements after the dissertation module.

Your university studies are integral to your advanced practice development. The programme has been designed to enable innovative solutions and develop new ways of working to improve, transform and streamline service delivery and equip apprentices with new, specialist practitioner knowledge to develop in their new role.

The programme recognises the specific learner characteristics of work-based learning students. This particularly notes the need for experiential assessment, opportunities to combine work and study, embedding academic and clinical learning. Indeed, the philosophy of the programme is derived from work-based learning guidelines and will:

• Develop your confidence and capability as research informed and research led learners.
• Enable engagement with critical reflection as a tool to explore and demonstrate applied learning.
• Focus learning on diverse professional and personal development needs by using the workplace as the context for the learning.

Within university-led sessions you will draw on contemporary sources of research and evidence to explore key theories and core concepts related to advanced clinical practice across all 4 pillars. You will develop your ability to critically engage with learning, analysing and appraising evidence in the context of your practice, enabling you to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and behaviours for this apprenticeship standard.

Your learning will be facilitated by the advanced practice team who will introduce you to various approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment throughout your studies. Examples of teaching and learning methods used include classroom and seminar-based learning, case-studies and case-based discussions, group learning and presentation, self-study, peer learning, simulation, and networking. Formative and summative assessments are designed to offer feedback on your current development to inform your future learning.  Assessments include academic essays, short examinations, oral presentations of practice, a viva-voce, practical demonstrations and development of a practice portfolio. The modules, assessments, and practice portfolio for this award are designed to help you to meet the university based requirements of the BASHH, FSRH and NHIVNA Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) Integrated Sexual Health and HIV SpecialistTraining Curriculum. You will also be required to successfully complete a university-based multi-station objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) to demonstrate clinical skills early in the programme. The varied and authentic nature of these assessments will prepare you for your future career as an advanced practitioner.  University study will contribute to your 20% off the job training, a mandatory requirement of an apprenticeship.  

Whilst on campus, apprentices will have access to the University’s exceptional facilities including social spaces, IT facilities and lecture theatres in addition to 24/7 access to our award winner University Library. The use of our Clinical Skills Centre based at Coach Lane campus includes some of the most advanced healthcare facilities in the country and the facilities ensure that your learning will progress in parallel with the latest developments in the healthcare industry.

The team that delivers the advanced clinical practitioner programme comprises clinicians and academics who boast extensive clinical, research, leadership and management, and educational knowledge across a variety of healthcare specialties, bringing their expertise to the classroom to enhance your learning experience. With many years’ experience supporting advanced practice students and apprentices, our expert team will be there to support you through every step of this apprenticeship, ensuring you leave with confidence and a full understanding of all aspects of this dynamic clinical practice role.

To support your studies, you will be allocated a personal tutor for the duration of your programme that will offer pastoral support. An Academic Work Place Coach will be on hand to provide holistic apprenticeship support, regularly bringing together you, your employer, and the university to support your development throughout your apprenticeship.

In partnership with Northumbria University, your employer will support you at work to achieve your apprenticeship. Whilst studying you will be required to work full-time, or at least 30 hours per week.

Your employer will help guide your workplace learning, introducing you to opportunities that will help you to develop your specialist knowledge and consolidate your learning in your advanced practice role. This learning will enable you to demonstrate achievement of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours of the apprenticeship standard. Opportunities for learning in the workplace could include supervised practice, shadowing and shadowed practice, clinician led and clinical teaching, simulation, and short courses. As an apprentice, a minimum of 20% of your learning should be off the job. Further details about off the job training can be found here.

Your employer will use the BASHH, FSRH and NHIVNA Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) Integrated Sexual Health and HIV SpecialistTraining Curriculum to identify and define your scope of practice. They will provide practice support and supervision in line with the Specialist Training Curriculum requirements and NHS England’s Workplace Supervision for Advanced Clinical Practice (2021), and this includes at least one named clinical or clinical educational supervisor. Apprenticeship development will be facilitated by the university via Academic Work Place Coaches who will arrange to meet with you and your supervisor at regular intervals throughout the programme.

During the programme, university assessments are aligned to the workplace and include work-based assessment. This alignment to the context and activity of your organisation and job role increases organisational understanding and performance.  Whilst off-campus and in the workplace, you will have access to our technology-enhanced learning (TEL) facilities to provide access to module information, electronic reading lists and online learning resources such as podcasts, e-books and e-journals.

The employer covers all tuition fees for the apprenticeship, the total payment required depends on the organisation’s apprenticeship levy status.

Apprentices studying an apprenticeship do not pay any tuition fees, however, as they are in full-time employment they do not have student status and therefore are not entitled to apply for student finance. 

Application and entry onto this course should be initiated by employers. To discuss the fees for this apprenticeship in detail or to explore signing an agreement with the university, complete the enquiry form below and someone from our Business and Enterprise team will be in touch shortly.

Regional Faculties for Advancing Practice

NHS England has developed Regional Faculties for Advancing Practice to support advanced practice roles. It is strongly recommended that you visit the Regional Faculty for Advancing Practice webpages to explore the support that is available to your organisation during the implementation and ongoing development of these roles.

Alternative Application Route

If your organisation is unable to support your studies via their levy but you still want to apply for one of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner options, please find below alternative routes to apply. Please note your employer will still need to initiate an application to the programme and full fees will be applicable.

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Primary Care)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Sexual Health)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Advanced Critical Care Practitioner)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Emergency Care)

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Older People)

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Acute Medicine)

We guide both employer and apprentice through the application and funding process and will be on hand to assist you during the apprenticeship journey.

Information for Employers

To start the application process for either current employees or new recruits, contact our Business and Enterprise team today by email or complete our online enquiry form. Alternatively, you can call 0191 215 6300.

Should you wish to speak to any of the course team during the planning phase of your ACP recruitment and training programme, please raise an enquiry with the Business and Enterprise team.

Regional Faculties for Advancing Practice

NHS England has developed Regional Faculties for Advancing Practice to support advanced practice roles. It is strongly recommended that you visit the Regional Faculty for Advancing Practice webpages to explore the support that is available to your organisation during the implementation and ongoing development of these roles. Please note, any applications to a regional faculty are in addition to University application processes.

Information for Apprentices

To study this Advanced Clinical Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship you are required to be in full-time employment and working in a role that is recognised as an advanced clinical practitioner or trainee advanced clinical practitioner within integrated sexual health services within your organisation. You should speak with your employer about how your organisation can support you on this course, and in the role of an ACP. If you are interested in studying this apprenticeship and you are in current full-time employment you can complete our online enquiry form. Your employer will make the final decision about whether you will progress to application and it is recommended that they contact our Business and Enterprise team as detailed above.

Before entry onto the programme, all apprenticeship applicants must complete an Initial Skills Assessment which maps their prior knowledge against the apprenticeship standard. This is part of the University’s regulatory funding obligations. All Initial Skills Assessments are reviewed prior to induction and a meeting is held between the apprentice and a Work Place Coach to discuss this, including short-term and long-term goals upon commencing the apprenticeship. The purpose of an apprenticeship is to provide new learning and the skills assessment will be used to establish whether we need to tailor your programme in any way to account for your previous qualifications or experience. It also provides a benchmark against which to map your progress on the programme.

As an apprentice, you must meet the Institiute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education qualifications requirements. Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or Functional Skills English and Maths at level 2 and be able to provide evidence of these qualifications. Further information about these requirements can be found here. It is recommended that applicants have these qualifications prior to entry, however if applicants are working towards these qualifications whilst studying their apprenticeship, it is a condition that they are completed prior to the gateway to advance to End Point Assessment. The University will facilitate provision of Maths and English qualifications where this is needed.

Throughout your programme, you must demonstrate compliance with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) rules through submission of evidence of your off-the-job training (OJT), which is reviewed at intervals throughout your apprenticeship, to ensure you meet the minimum 20% OJT requirement.

If you are not in full-time employment but would like to study this apprenticeship programme, keep checking our vacancies page for information regarding job opportunities. 

Alternative Application Route

If your organisation is unable to support your studies via their levy but you still want to apply for one of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner options, please find below alternative routes to apply. Please note your employer will still need to initiate an application to the programme and full fees will be applicable.

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Primary Care)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Sexual Health)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Advanced Critical Care Practitioner)
• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Emergency Care)

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Older People)

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Acute Medicine)

Stay tuned for information around future events.